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Links for Amateur Years:
Early Years |
1986/87 | 1987/88 | 1988/89 | 1989/90 |
1990/91 | 1991/92 | 1992/93 | 1993/94 |
Back to Memory Lane
1992/93 Competitive Season
Placement at International Competitions:
- 1993 Western Divisionals - 1st
- 1993 Canadians - 1st
- 1993 Worlds - 1st
1992/93 Competitive Programs and Exhibitions:
- Short Program: Bonzo's Montreux (Music by Led Zeppelin, choreography by Clarence Ford). Elements include a triple axel/double toe combination, a triple flip, and a double axel. Kurt did something a little different with this program, using a drum solo as music, and incorporating elements of popping, a "funk dance and street dance style based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to cause a jerk in the dancer's body, referred to as a pop or a hit" (Wikipedia). The program was all about attack and aggression, with the technical elements inserted in breaks in the music.
- Long Program: Casablanca (Music from the motion picture soundtrack, choreography by Sandra Bezic). Elements include a triple axel/triple toe combination, a triple salchow/triple loop combination, triple lutz, triple flip, and triple axel. One of Kurt Browning's most famous programs came about when Marijane Stong, his new coach's wife, said she thought Kurt looked a little like Humphrey Bogart. Together with Sandra Bezic, Kurt created a program that embodied the spirit of Humphrey Bogart, with close attention to detail, such as how the character would hold his arms, and moves that they felt would fit the character. The program is still considered one of the best free skates ever.
- Exhibition: As Time Goes By (Music from Casablanca, choreography by Sandra Bezic). The exhibition version of Kurt's Casablanca program featured a different cut of "A Time Goes By" with quotes from the movie spliced in. He performed as the same character with a somewhat more humorous twist than his competitive program. (Performed at Canadians and Worlds)
- Exhibition: Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me (Music by Elton John, choreography by Sandra Bezic). This exhibition program, Kurt and Sandra Bezic felt, contains in it Kurt's story and experiences from the two previous years, with his back injury, and the fans not "discarding" him and continuing to support him. (Performed at Canadian Stars on Ice)
- Exhibition: What a Wonderful World (Music by Louis Armstrong). (Performed at Canadians, Worlds)
- Exhibition: Sign Your Name/Dance Little Sister (Music by Terence Trent D'Arby, choreography by Kevin Cottam) (Performed at Skate the Dream)
- Exhibition: Nutcracker Russian Dance (Music from Nutcracker) Performed as one of two numbers during the Disney Holiday Fantasy on Ice TV special.
- Exhibition: Under the Sea (Music from the Little Mermaid) Performed as one of two numbers during the Disney Holiday Fantasy on Ice TV special, with footage from the movie "The Little Mermaid" spliced in.
- Ensemble: You Really Got Me (Music by Van Halen) with Elvis Stojko. Kurt and Elvis did a little exhibition number together at Worlds, miked for the TV cameras, and egging each other on to show off moves for the audience.
- Ensemble: Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Music by Queen) with Brian Orser & Elvis Stojko. The three Canadian champions performed a segment of the Queen finale at Canadian Stars on Ice together, grooving to Crazy Little Thing Called Love and flirting with Kristi Yamaguchi.
1992/93 Non-Competitive Shows and Events:
- Disney's Christmas Fantasy on Ice (1992)
- "Life on the Edge" (1992) - video documentary chronicling Kurt's career from his first world championship through his devastating 1991-92 season, aired first on TV and then released on video.
It follows 3-time World champion Kurt Browning in his pursuit of excellence - from the Calgary Olympics to the Albertville Olympics and beyond. This talented superstar has continued to develop unusual and untried combinations of jumps and has come of age artistically, setting the pace for those who would follow. Scenes from practice sessions, excerpts from his competitive performances, discussions with his coach about changing his style, and interviews with Kurt, his parents, his coach and others combine to create a portrait of what makes a world-class athlete.
- Skate the Dream (1992)
- Primetime documentary with Elvis (1993)
- Canadian Stars on Ice (skated to Casablanca and Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me)
Quotes about Kurt:
1993 Canadians - Rod Black after SP: "The three-time Canadian and World champion – a new program, a new year but the old Kurt, a performer to the very end. And a clutch performer at that!"
1993 Worlds - female Canadian commentator after SP: "Well that program just blows my mind because that is very difficult. It's not just the jumps out there, it's the choreography."
1993 Worlds - Louis Stong after SP: "I noticed that Kurt got a little behind in the music, about 8 beats at one point. Another skater may have shortened the spins to get back on the music, but he didn't do that. And so I found I was happy that he was thinking all the way through it. It was a thinking man's program."
1993 Worlds - Sandra Bezic during LP: "The artistic mark will go up. Oh wow! A 6.0! That's
for the performance, and that performance took maturity. Everything
he's been through, particularly in the last year, has made him a
deeper, more sensitive performer, and that's the beauty of figure
skating. It allows you to grow. Not only as an athlete, but also as
an artist."
1993 Worlds - Louis Stong: "He has probably the
fastest feet in town. He can do footwork amazingly fast."
Quotes from Kurt:
1993 Worlds, after SP, female commentator says about the 3-flip: "But he fought for that one" Kurt, entering the Kiss 'n Cry and overhearing: "My *mum* fought for that one!"
1993 Worlds, after winning: "Basically I took a bog chance in coming back. I had a great
opportunity to go professional and that's what I really wanted to do
from the bottom of my heart. The Olympics are too close and I just
sort of felt like I was leaving some of my best skating behind and I
knew there was no guarantee, especially in my own country to be a
Canadian champion. But I thought I can be a better skater, so I want
to come back and do that. The jumps almost were secondary to me this
year. I just wanted to be a better skater."
1993 Primetime Documentary with Elvis Stojko: "I went from 16th in the World to number one in the World in 2 years,
so I aged quickly. I do feel like the veteran and I enjoy it because I
worked hard to be on the World team since 1987 and I worked hard
trying to sustain a World title and I don't mind being called a
veteran. I think it's quite an honor, as long as I'm doing a good job
of it."
Did you know?
- Skating his LP (brand-new Casablanca) in the Western Divisonals, he wore a black practice outfit because the outfit he originally had "didn't quite work." Unfortunately, the program was shown on national television!
- In between Worlds and the 1992-93 season, Kurt decided to try a new environment to gear up for the 1994 Olympics, and moved to Toronto. There, he would begin to work with Louis Stong and Sandra Bezic.
- During the 93 Worlds Gala, he performed almost 10 full Russian splits!
- The second edition of "Kurt: Forcing the Edge" was published with extra chapters about the 1991-92 season.
Many thanks to the following LKK Members for their Kurt contributions for this "chapter" of Memory Lane:
Go To 1993/94
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